The House of Representatives Committees on Women In Parliament and Women Affairs, have demanded for the ceding of not less than 50% of elective positions for women in the country in the 2023 general elections.
Though the United Nations affirmative action treaty asks for at least 35% political representation for women, the Committees at a Summit in Abuja on Monday however said 50%, should be the minimum in the next general election, in line with the 1999 Constitution.
The summit entitled “Roundtable on Improving Women’s Political Participation and Inclusion in Nigeria”, was put together by the Committee on Women In Parliament, headed by Hon. Taiwo Oluga, with support by the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) and the European Union.
Oluga in her address, regretted that women were facing extremely strenuous hurdles to representing their communities in Parliament, as she urged for radical reforms.
Also in her presentation, Hon. Wunmi Onanuga, stressed that instead of the 30% Affirmative action plan, which is yet to be attained, the country should scale it up in the next 2023 polls, in line with the constitutional requirement of “equality among genders”.
Earlier, Mrs. Oluga, who acknowledged the quality representation of Deputy Whip of the House, Rep. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, who was also at the event, urged political parties and the government to do more for the female gender.
“From the theme of this Roundtable Discussion, it is important that there is need to improve women’s participation in politics and governance in Nigeria. The Theme is in itself is an admission of low level of women participation in politics”, she said.